John w



J. W. HOLLER.

(No Model.).

FENCE.

Patented Ma V J 2 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. HOLLER, OF VAN BUREN, INDIAN A, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES D. GRANDSTAFF, OF SAME PLACE.

FIIENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,274, dated May 3, 1898. Application filed July 19 1897-: Serial No. 6 4 5,138- (N 0 model.)

To aZLwhom it may concern: Q

Be it known'that I, JOHN W. HOLLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Van Buren, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Fence, of which the following is a specifica tion.

My invention relates to fences, and particularly to a fence-stay and means for securin g the same to-the runners intersectedthereby; and the, object in view is to provide, in connection with a stay, means for engaging the runners,whereby an economy of material is attained Without detracting from the efficiency of the attachment; to provide a stay with a plurality of runner -receiving eyes which are so connected to the stay as to prevent their detachment by straining the runners; to provide means whereby displacement of the stay parallel withthe runners is prevented, while not interfering. with the separate tightening of the runners; to provide runner-engaging means of such a construction asto be applicable to stays or pickets of wood and adapted to strengthen and prevent splitting of such stays, and, f urthermore, to provide runner-engaging devices which may be applied quickly and efficiently by an unskilled person.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a View of a portion of a fence-panel constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a detail view in perspective of a portion of a stay and the contiguous portions of the runners, showing the opposite side of the stay from that which is illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of a portion of the tie detached, showing the contiguous portion of the stay in dotted lines.v

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. v

The runners 1 are intersected by'the stays or pickets 2, which may be constructed of either wood or metal, the former material being preferable, and the improved stay is provided in its edges with notches or seats 3,

spaced apart to correspond with the intervals between the runners in the planes of which they are respectively arranged, the contiguous notches or seats being arranged at opposite edges of the stay. Thus the notches or seats are arranged alternately or in a zigzag series,extending from one terminal or bounding runner to the other. In these notches or seats are arranged runner-engaging eyes 4, consisting of looped portions of a continuous tie-wire 5,Which extends from one end of the stay to the'other in a zigzag direction,whereby portions of the tie-wire are arranged in inclined positions and extend from a point contiguous to one edge of the stay across to a point contiguous tothe other edge thereof. The sides of eachloop are also preferably crossed, as clearly shown in Fig. 3; but it is obvious that this feature of the construction is not indispensable, for the reason that the depth of the notchesor seats is sufficient to insure the permanency of the tie without the crossing of the sides of the loops. The advantage of this crossing, however, resides in the fact that it enables the eyes to more snugly engage the runners, and thus adapt the eyes in diameter to the runners. Said eyes are not designed, however, to engage the intermediate runners, or those which are located between the terminal or bounding runners,with sufficient tightness to prevent the independent longitudinal adjustment of the runners, such adjustment being desirable in order to maintain the runners at the desired tension.

The extremities of the tie, after forming the loops or eyes, respectively, at the opposite extremities of the stay, are carried transversely across the stay, as shown at 5*, and are wrapped around the contiguous portions of the terminal orbounding runners to form coils 6', and in order that this attachment of the tie-wire to the terminal or bounding runners may be sufficiently secure to prevent dis placement of the stay parallel with the runners I preferably kink or crimp the runners, as shown at 7, and cover thesekinks or crimps by means of the said coils.

From the above description it will be seen that the stay forming one element of my invention is provided upon one side-with a-plu rality of runner-engaging eyes which project beyond the surface of the stay and are arranged in a zigzag series, contiguous eyes being arranged adjacent to opposite edges of the stay, and these eyes are connected in series by straight diagonally-disposed portions of the tie which lie in contact with the opposite side of the stay from that at which the eyes are lo ated, said connecting portions serving to transversely span the stay, and thus prevent the longitudinal splitting thereof. In other words, said connecting portions of the tie, by extending diagonally across the same, serve to bind the stay and enable a stay or picket of wood to effectually resist any ordinary strain which may be applied thereto. Hence I am enabled to use a comparatively light stay without detracting from the efficiency of the fence.

' A further advantage of the construction above described resides in the fact that after terminallyattaching the tie\vire at one endsay to the uppermost terminal or bounding runner-and extending the contiguous portion of the tie across the end of the stay and forming a loop therein to engage said uppermost runner at the opposite side of the stay the stay is supported during the subsequent engagement of the tie with the intermediate and lowermost runner. After thus securing the stay at one end the tie-wire is carried diagonally across the stay to the adjacent notch or seat, is looped around the contiguous runner, both sides of the loop thus formed being arranged in the notch or seat, thence is carried diagonally in the opposite direction to the next notch or seat, and so on, to the opposite extremity of the stay, where the terminal engagement is effected, as hereinbefore described.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A stay for wire-runner fences, provided with a plurality of runner-engaging eyes, projecting from one side surface of the stay, and arranged in a zigzag series alternately adjacent to opposite edges of the stay, each eye being closed and consisting of a loop having crossed sides, and diagonally-disposed connections between the eyes, arranged in contact with the opposite side of the stay, substantially as specified.

2. A stay for wire-runner fences provided in its opposite edges with a zigzag series of notches or seats, in combination with a zigzag tie-wire provided with spaced loops arranged respectively in said notches or seats, with the connecting portions between said loops arranged diagonally in contact with one side surface of the stay, all of said loops projecting perpendicularly beyond the opposite side surface of the stay to form runnerengaging eyes, substantially as specified.

3. A stay for wire-runner fences provided in its opposite edges with notches or seats arranged in a zigzag series, in combination with a continuous tie-wire provided with spaced loops arranged respectively in said notches or seats to project beyond a common side surface of the stay, and having the sides of the loops crossed, the connecting portions of the tire-wire lying in contact with the opposite side surface of the stay, substantially as specified.

4. In a fence, the combination with runners, of an intersecting stay provided in its opposite edges with notches or seats arranged in a zigzag series, and a continuous tie-wire terminally attached to the uppermost and lowermost runners, and provided at intervals with loops extending respectively through said notches or seats, and engaging the run ners at the opposite side surface of the stay, substantially as specified.

In a fence, the combination of runners, the uppermost and lowermost runners being provided with crimps, a stay arranged at one side surface in contact with the runners, and having its extremities arranged contiguous to said crimps in the uppermost and lowermost runners, said stay being provided in its opposite edges with a zigzag series of notches 01 seats, and a continuous tie-wire terminally coiled around the crimped portions of said uppermost and lowermost runners, and provided with intermediate spaced loops arranged respectively in said notches or seats to form runner-engaging eyes, substantially as specified.

6. In a fence, the combination with runners, of an intersecting stay provided in its opposite edges with notches or seats arranged in a zigzag series and disposed respectively in the planes of the runners, and a tiewire terminally attached to the uppermost and lowermost runners, extended transversely across the stay in the planes of said uppermost and lowermost runners, respectively, having its intermediate portion extended in a zigzag direction between said notches or seats, and provided at intervals with loops extending respectively through the notches or seats, and projecting beyond the opposite side surface of the stay, to form runner-engaging eyes, the intermediate eyes being loosely fitted upon the engaged runners, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN IV. IIOIILER.

Witnesses:

G. W. CAMBLIN, ED. CUNINGI-IAM. 

